Paraffin-resisting surface for paraffin-absorbent boxes and method of making same



Patented Oct. 25, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HOWARD F. WEISS, OF MADISON, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO C. F. BURGESS LABORATORIES, INC., 0F DOVER, DELAWARE, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

PARAFFIN-RESIS'IING SURFACE FOR PARAFFIN-ABSORBENT BOXES AND METHOD OF MAKING SAME.

No Drawing.

My invention provides a method for coating paper, so that molten paraflin heated to the smoking point, as Well as other waxes, greases and oils, will be prevented from reaching the paper and saturating it. This method of preventing the paraflin from saturating the coated paper is of much importance in the manufacture of boxes, such for instance, as are used for radio B-batteries, although it can be applied to other manufactures.

According to usual practice B-battery boxes are made of a chipboard or similar paper product which has the property of absorbing large quantities of molten paraflin. A suitable label is pasted on the exterior of the chipboard box. The labeled box is then saturated with parafiin heated to smoking which drives out all of the moisture and makes the box thoroughly waterproof. The label, which may be printed on white paper, becomes thoroughly saturated with paraffin and the paper becomes translucent. On the other hand, the chipboard box acquires a dark color when saturated with paraflin so that the translucent white label paper assumes a dirty White color which gives the box an undesirable appearance. Other colors also assume a dirty appearance.

My invention provides a method for coating such labels so that the paraffin cannot penetrate the paper, thereby preserving the desirable clean color of the printed labels.

I have found that if paper is dipped into colloidal solutions (from 3 to 6 percent) of starch, casein, silicate of soda, gelatine, glue, collodion, etc., a film is formed on the paper, which, after drying, prevents paraflin, which has been heated to smoking, from reaching the paper, except for occasional pinholes. The effectiveness of the protecting film is determined by the number of pin holes. The films formed by these various colloidal solutions have the defect of being brittle. The fragile nature of the film does not allow the paper to be roughly handled and the film is likely to be ruptured or cracked during subsequent manipulation. These cracks allow the paraflin to penetrate to the paper. I have discovered Application filed May 15, 1925. Serial No. 30,623.

further that this brittleness may be over come by adding a non-drying material to the glue or other coating solutions. This non-drying material tempers the film and keeps it flexible. Glycerine, rubber latex, and dextrine are examples of materials which may be added to the coating solution.

It is desirable to print labels, which are to be paraffined, after the paper is coated with the paraliin-resisting film. If the film does not contain the non-drying fluid, the printing operation ruptures the film on the surface. I have discovered that paper coated with a film of a suitable material, such as sizing glue, to which'glycerme has been added, may be put through the printing press Without rupturing the film. A Water solution containing 6 per cent of sizing ine gives excellent results.

It has not been found necessary to coat both sides of labels which are to be pasted onto a backing material, such as B-battery boxes. If a suitable adhesive, such as boxfactory glue, is used to paste the label onto the box, this adhesive, if heavy enough. acts as a film which prevents the paraflin from penetrating the label during saturation of the abscroent box.

While my invention has its special application in the labeling and paraffining of B-battery boxes, it can be used wherever a paraflin-resistant paper surfacing is required. I define paladin-resistant as excluding all paraffin. There are papers which absorb but small quantities of oils, greases, Waxes or parallin, but such papers are not suitable as labels for B-battery boxes and are not included under my definition of paraflin-resistant.

Although the claims refer to molten paraflin, I do not wish to be limited to this material since my invention is also applicable to paper made resistant to Waxes, oils and greases.

In the manufacture of B-battery boxes, the labels are first coated on one or both sides with a parafiin-resisting film, the labels are then printed over this film, after which they are pasted onto the chipboard box, box-factory glue being used if the reverse paraifin-resisting glue and 3 per cent of glyccr- Liz) side of the; label has not been protected with a film, following which the finished box is ready for the parafiining operation.

I claim:

1. The method which consists in coating at least one side of a sheet of paper with a paraffin-resisting colloid, pasting said sheet .to a paraffin absorbent surface by means of hesive, and then impregnating said absorbent surface with paraffin. I

3. The'method which consists in coating at least one side of a sheet of paper W1th V glue and glycerine, substantially as described, printing on the coated surface, pasting the reverse side of the sheet to an absorbent surface, and saturating said absorbent surface with paraffin.

4c. The method of labeling a lB-battery box and rendering said box impervious to moisture without. impairing the appearance of the label, which consists in treating a sur-' face of a sheet of paper with glue and glycerine, printing on said treated surface, pasting the reverse side of said sheet to an absorbent box by means of a paraffin-resisting glue, and then saturating said box with paraflin.

5. The method of labeling a B-battery box and of rendering said box impervious to moisture without impairing the appearance of the label, which consists in treatlng a surface of a sheet of paper with a Water solution of about6% of sizing glue and about 3% of glycerine, drying to form a continuous film, printing on said film, pasting the reverse side of said sheet to an absorbent B-battery box with a film of box-makers glue, and immersing the box in smoking-hot paraffin.

6. The steps in the process of surfacing the exterior of a B-battery box with a parafin-rsisting paper label, which comprise coating the exposed surface of the paper with a continuous film of glue containing enough glycerine to render the glue film flexible enough for printing without rupture of the film, printing on the surface of the paper so prepared, and fastening the paper to the exterior of the B-battery box with a continuous film of paraflin-resisting adhesive. I

7. A paraflin-absorbent paper box having an adhering surfacing of paraffin-resisting paper and having the remainder of its walls saturated with paraflin.

8. A water-proofed B-battery box having an adherent surfacing of printed parafiinresisting paper and having the remainder of its walls saturated with paraffin.

9. A B-battery box waterproofed with paraffin and having a printed label pasted thereto with paratfin-resistant' glue, said label having a surface film of dried colloid and glycerine, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

- HOWARD"F. WEISS. 

